MPR's Tom Scheck was with the Santorum campaign earlier today, and he filed this dispatch:

Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum made a last minute pitch for Republican support in Minnesota's precinct caucuses when he held a rally in Blaine this afternoon.

He delivered a blistering critique of his GOP rivals Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, saying they agree with each other and with President Obama on key issues. He said he is the only true conservative in the race.

"Here's the interesting thing. For years Republicans were always told you have to compromise. You have to nominate someone who's a moderate. Someone like Jerry Ford or someone like George H. W. Bush when he ran against Reagan or someone like Bob Dole or John McCain. Well, now you have the opportunity to actually nominate somebody who agrees with you."

The presidential straw poll at tonight's caucuses is non-binding in terms of national delegates, but whoever wins is likely to use it as evidence he can win the nomination.

The Star Tribune reports that Santorum was glitter bombed during the event - something the candidate has become used to on the campaign trail.

"I get those at almost every event. It doesn't even matter," said Santorum, whose suit jacket sparkled for his entire stump speech. "It's glitter. Big deal."

About Paul Tosto

Paul Tosto writes the Big Story Blog for MPR News. He joined the
newsroom in 2008 after more than 20 years reporting on education,
politics and the economy for news wires and newspapers across the
country.